HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 33
(By Delegates Overington, Blair, Doyle, Duke, Rowan,
Tabb, Trump and Wysong)
Requesting the State of West Virginia and the United States Federal
Government fully recognize the counties of Berkeley and
Jefferson in the State of West Virginia as part of the
beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley.
Whereas, The State of West Virginia was originally part of the
Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863, and the counties of
Berkeley and Jefferson were not officially annexed by West Virginia
until 1872 upon the ruling of the United States Supreme Court; and
Whereas, The Shenandoah Valley begins at the Potomac River
which forms the northern boundary along Berkeley and Jefferson
counties and continues southwestward to the southern boundary near
the city of Roanoke, Virginia. The valley is flanked to the east
by the Blue Ridge Mountains (in eastern Jefferson County) and to
the west by the Allegheny Mountains (in western Berkeley County).
The Shenandoah River flows northward and empties into the Potomac
River at Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County; and
Whereas, The entire valley was known as the "Breadbasket of the
Confederacy" because of its richness in fertile soils that sustains
life for farms and orchards; and
Whereas, In 1996, the United States Congress established the "Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District and
Commission". At that time, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties were
not included as a part of the program; and
Whereas, Berkeley and Jefferson counties should be eligible to
become part of the "Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District and Commission" and be eligible for any other
federal programs that are available for the Shenandoah Valley;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the State of West
Virginia and the United States Federal Government fully recognize
the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson in the State of West
Virginia as part of the beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of
the United States, West Virginia's congressional delegation, the
Governor, the County Commissions of Berkeley and Jefferson counties
and the mayors and city councils of Bolivar, Charles Town, Harpers
Ferry, Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Ranson and Shepherdstown.